Operating method for a hybrid vehicle

An operating method for a hybrid vehicle which has an electric motor for driving the vehicle, a battery for supplying electric power to the electric motor, a generator for charging the battery, an internal combustion engine operatively isolated from the electric motor and used to drive the generator, a starter for starting the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust gas purifier, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining by a controller whether drive of the internal combustion engine is requested;
• detecting the temperature of an exhaust purifying catalyst of the exhaust gas purifier by a catalyst temperature sensor;
• determining whether the detected temperature of the catalyst is lower than a predetermined value;
• and
• executing a series of steps under the control of the controller when it is determined that the drive of the engine is requested and that the temperature of the catalyst is lower than the predetermined value,
• said series of steps including:
• stopping the internal combustion engine;
• supplying electric power to an electric heater for heating the catalyst, thereby heating the electric heater;
• starting the internal combustion engine by the starter when the temperature of the catalyst becomes higher than the predetermined value;
• determining whether the internal combustion engine has warmed up;
• and
• wherein power generation of the generator by the internal combustion engine is started when it is determined that the internal combustion engine has warmed up.

A system for operating a hybrid car having an electric motor for driving the hybrid car comprising:

• a battery for supplying electric power to the electric motor;
• a generator for charging said battery;
• an internal combustion engine operatively isolated from the electric motor for driving said generator;
• a starter for starting said internal combustion engine;
• an exhaust gas purifier;
• a catalyst temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of an exhaust purifying catalyst of said exhaust gas purifier;
• an electric heater for heating said exhaust purifying catalyst;
• and
• a controller for determining whether a drive of said internal combustion engine is requested and determining whether the temperature detected by said catalyst temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined value, said controller stops said internal combustion engine, supplies electric power to said electric heater when the drive of said internal combustion engine is requested and the temperature of said exhaust purifying catalyst is lower than said predetermined value and starts said internal combustion engine by said starter when the drive of said internal combustion engine is requested and the temperature of said exhaust purifying catalyst becomes higher than said predetermined value.

A system for operating a hybrid car having an electric motor for driving the hybrid car, comprising:

• a battery for supplying electric power to the electric motor;
• a generator for charging said battery;
• an internal combustion engine operatively isolated from the electric motor for driving said generator;
• a starter for starting said internal combustion engine;
• an exhaust gas purifier;
• a catalyst temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of an exhaust purifying catalyst of said exhaust gas purifier;
• an electric heater for heating said exhaust purifying catalyst;
• and
• a controller for determining whether a drive of said internal combustion engine is requested and determining whether the temperature detected by said catalyst temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined value, said controller stops said internal combustion engine, supplies electric power to said electric heater when the drive of said internal combustion engine is requested and the temperature of said exhaust purifying catalyst is lower than said predetermined value and starts said internal combustion engine by said starter when the drive of said internal combustion engine is requested and the temperature of said exhaust purifying catalyst becomes higher than said predetermined value, determines whether said internal combustion engine has warmed up, and
• starts power generation of said generator by said internal combustion engine, when said controller determines that said internal combustion engine has warmed up.